Drive for a multi-color web-fed rotary printing press

ABSTRACT

A multi-color web-fed rotary printing press is arranged having a plurality of printing groups with each group having several individual printing units. Each printing group has an upright drive shaft that is connected to a drive motor for each of the several printing units in the group. The several upright drive shafts are connected to a longitudinal main drive shaft. The individual drive motors and the upright shafts are sized to be able to take over the drive of one of the printing units in a printing group should its motor fail.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Drive for a Multi-Color Web-Fed Rotary Printing Press

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The invention relates to a drive for a multi-color web-fed rotaryprinting press.

A web-fed rotary printing press with several inking units and a foldingunit is known from DE-OS 31 12 775, wherein a drive shaft, driven by amain motor, is provided and is connected via upright shafts with theprinting units.

It is disadvantageous here that the entire printing operation is stoppedwhen the main drive motor fails. It is furthermore disadvantageous that,because of the disconnection of printing units not needed for reasons ofproduction, it becomes necessary to switch on current limiting device inorder to prevent too great a brush wear of the electric motor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide an easy-to-synchronizedrive for a multi-color web-fed rotary printing press having an outputwhich is adapted to the given production requirements, by means of whichprinting units which are not needed temporarily can either be turned offor operated for cleaning and preparation work.

A drive for a multi-color web-fed rotary printing press employs a mainshaft and several upright shafts. Several printing units, which aredisposed above each other to form printing groups, each have a separatedrive motor and are each connected by a clutch and a gear to one of theupright shafts. Each of the upright shafts, as well as folding unitswhich are driven by their own separate motors, are connected throughclutches to the longitudinal main shaft.

The following advantages in particular ensue when employing theinvention. By means of the assignment of one drive motor to a printingunit it is possible to disconnect it separately from the drive systemwhen necessary and in this way to adapt the drive output to the givenproduction requirements. Current limiting devices for a main motor,which were necessary up to now, can be omitted. For cleaning,maintenance or pre-inking work at the printing cylinders it isfurthermore possible to run the printing unit by means of therespectively assigned drive motor without producing anything. In case ofthe loss of a motor driving a printing unit, is possible to obtain thepower for running a printing unit via the upright shaft, i.e. the motorsand shafts are of such size that they can also provide the output of afailed motor. Connection of a printing unit to the synchronized orupright shaft is provided with small outlay via a clutch, whereinsynchronization is provided by means of an absolute value transmitter ora positive clutch. A simple seating possibility is provided because thedrive motors are alike.

Possible separate auxiliary motors, which were possibly used up to nowfor washing, setting-up or positioning, can therefore also be omitted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in detail below by means of an exemplaryembodiment. The associated drawings show in

FIG. 1, a front view of a multi-color web-fed rotary printing press witha drive diagram;

FIG. 2, an enlarged representation of a printing group of FIG. 1, butwithout showing the drive.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Three identical printing groups 1, 2, 3, so-called towers of eight, arerepresented in FIG. 1, which each have four printing units 7 to 18disposed on top of each other. Each printing unit 7 to 18 hasrespectively two rubber blanket cylinders 21, 22 as well as two platecylinders 23, 24. The plate cylinder 23 of each printing unit 7 to 18 isdriven by a motor 26. The rubber blanket and plate cylinders 21 to 24are respectively connected with each other by means of known toothedgears. Each one of the printing units 7 to 18 is connected via a clutch27, a beveled toothed gear 25, a synchronizing or upright shaft 28, 29or 30, an upright shaft clutch 32, 33 or 34 and a beveled toothed gear25 with a synchronizing or longitudinal shaft 36. The clutches 27, 3233, 34 can be known clutches in good register and can consist of anupper and a lower clutch plate. The rubber blanket cylinder 21 of eachprinting unit 8, 10, 12, 14 16 and 18 is provided with an absolute valuetransmitter 31 (AWG) which by known electronic means signals only onepossible angle position of the driven rubber blanket cylinder 21 forsynchronized connection of the printing unit. The absolute valuetransmitter consists of a circular disk with angular graduation. It isalso possible to use a known so-called positive clutch in place of theabsolute value transmitter, which also permits the connecting process inonly one possible angular position.

Two folding units 37, 38 are also connected via beveled toothed gears 25as well as with upright shaft clutches 39, 40 and upright shafts 42, 43with the synchronizing or longitudinal shaft 36.

Each folding unit 37, 38 can be driven by a motor 44. Forming rollers,not shown, are respectively connected with the upright shaft 42, 43 ofthe folding unit 37, 38 via clutches 45 and transverse shafts, notshown, for the fold are respectively connected with it via clutches 46.Each transverse shaft for the fold is suitably connected with anabsolute value transmitter 31. For the purpose of synchronization withthe printing groups 1 to 3, each upright shaft 42, 43 of the foldingunit 37, 38 is connected via a known beveled toothed gear 25 with thelongitudinal shaft 36.

The longitudinal shaft 36 can be embodied to be divided by means ofseveral clutches 48 of known construction. Further printing groups, notshown, can also be connected with the longitudinal shaft 36. The dividedlongitudinal shaft 36 can be brought into a synchronized position bymeans of absolute value transmitters 50 (WIG).

The printing units 7 to 18 can also be embodied in a Y-shape, i.e. eachone with three rubber blanket cylinders and three plate cylinders.However, in this case only two printing units are disposed above eachother for practical reasons.

The enlarged representation of a printing group 1, having inking anddampening units, is shown in FIG. 2, but without a representation of thedrive. The printing units 7 to 10, disposed above each other, are shown,wherein respectively one dampening unit 49 and one inking unit 51 areassociated with and driven by the plate cylinders 23, and respectivelyone dampening unit 52 and one inking unit 33 are associated with anddriven by the plate cylinders 24. The upright and longitudinal shafts 28to 30, 36, 42,-43 are seated in respective bearings fixed on the frame.

I claim:
 1. A drive for a multi-color web-fed rotary printing presscomprising:a plurality of printing groups with each of said printinggroups having at least two individual printing units disposed one abovethe other; an individual printing unit drive motor for each one of saidindividual printing units in each one of said plurality of printinggroups; at least first and second folding units, each having a separatefolding unit drive motor; a separate upright shaft positioned adjacenteach one of said plurality of printing groups and each of said at leastfirst and second folding units, each said upright shaft having anupright shaft clutch; a separate coupling clutch and bevel gearconnecting each individual printing unit in each one of said pluralityof printing groups to said separate upright shaft associated with saidone of said plurality of printing groups; and a main synchronizing driveshaft extending longitudinally and being connected to each one of saidupright shafts for said plurality of printing groups and said at leastfirst and second folding units through said shaft clutches, each of saidindividual printing unit drive motors being separately disconnectablefrom its associated one of said upright shafts, each said individualprinting unit drive motor having an output sufficient to operate anotherone of said printing units in the one of said printing groups in whichit is located upon failure of another one of said individual printingunit drive motors in the one of said printing groups in which saidindividual printing units are located.